<![CDATA[Triple Humanities or Triple Science?]]>

NormalPerson:
slmkhoo:

[quote=\"NormalPerson\"]My son quite poor in math and sciences both only b3. But his humanities also not that stable although he can get a2 for all his humanities.


Again, I would say that interest is more important than past grades. If he is interested, he should be willing to put in the effort to improve. Also, for many students, humanities will improve as they get older as maturity helps. In any case, in an IP school, because there are no O levels to face, it doesn't matter as much if the grades at Yr 4 are not so good as long as he can get into the combination of his choice in Yr 5. That's what we think for our daughter anyway - she is in IP as well.

Which means can still sort of study 'science' in yr 5? Like he take chem+bio+math+hist/e lit?[/quote]At A levels, students can only take a max of 2 sciences anyway, so your son can take Chem and Bio at A levels if he chooses and be considered a 'science' student, if that label matters to you. The other 2 subjects at A level are usually Maths and the contrasting subject. What options there are for the contrasting subject will probably vary from school to school.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/66992/triple-humanities-or-triple-scienceRSS for NodeSat, 09 May 2026 09:22:10 GMTWed, 25 Dec 2013 02:21:42 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Triple Humanities or Triple Science? on Wed, 25 Dec 2013 02:18:58 GMT]]>

zbear:
Don't you think its risky not to take Maths although he is weak in that subject? Maybe you can get a tutor to see where is his weakness n spend more time n efforts on that subject.


Both my kids are weak in Maths since primary school but I told them to persevere n I got them tutors too. Now, they are doing well in Maths.

Just my thot!
I think Maths is compulsory for all (E Maths is compulsory for all, and I think many IP schools make A Maths compulsory too), so it's not a consideration in choosing subject combination.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173482https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173482Wed, 25 Dec 2013 02:18:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Triple Humanities or Triple Science? on Wed, 25 Dec 2013 01:37:30 GMT]]>Don’t you think its risky not to take Maths although he is weak in that subject? Maybe you can get a tutor to see where is his weakness n spend more time n efforts on that subject.


Both my kids are weak in Maths since primary school but I told them to persevere n I got them tutors too. Now, they are doing well in Maths.

Just my thot!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173461https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173461Wed, 25 Dec 2013 01:37:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Triple Humanities or Triple Science? on Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:39:55 GMT]]>

slmkhoo:
NormalPerson:

My son quite poor in math and sciences both only b3. But his humanities also not that stable although he can get a2 for all his humanities.


Again, I would say that interest is more important than past grades. If he is interested, he should be willing to put in the effort to improve. Also, for many students, humanities will improve as they get older as maturity helps. In any case, in an IP school, because there are no O levels to face, it doesn't matter as much if the grades at Yr 4 are not so good as long as he can get into the combination of his choice in Yr 5. That's what we think for our daughter anyway - she is in IP as well.

Which means can still sort of study 'science' in yr 5? Like he take chem+bio+math+hist/e lit?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173237https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173237Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:39:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Triple Humanities or Triple Science? on Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:33:33 GMT]]>

NormalPerson:
My son quite poor in math and sciences both only b3. But his humanities also not that stable although he can get a2 for all his humanities.

Again, I would say that interest is more important than past grades. If he is interested, he should be willing to put in the effort to improve. Also, for many students, humanities will improve as they get older as maturity helps. In any case, in an IP school, because there are no O levels to face, it doesn't matter as much if the grades at Yr 4 are not so good as long as he can get into the combination of his choice in Yr 5. That's what we think for our daughter anyway - she is in IP as well.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173230https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173230Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:33:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Triple Humanities or Triple Science? on Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:33:21 GMT]]>

NormalPerson:



But like that is it quite limiting for him? Quite a lot of courses in uni is
engineering.
Well if he knows he has no interest or aptitude for it then there's no point in forcing it. I personally took trip science and double humans in secondary but my physics has been gone case since start of sec 3 (took it mainly for the prestige and options) got b3 for it at o levels. Whereas now in jc i'm doing h2 chem bio econs math. usually the point of triple science is so that it gives you the choice of bio OR physics at jc because you can only do 2 sciences in jc of which 1 must be chem if you're in science course. if you have no aptitude for physics (like me) don't force it unless you want to confirm go engineering.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173229https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173229Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:33:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Triple Humanities or Triple Science? on Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:28:11 GMT]]>

Skyed:
NormalPerson:

[quote=\"Skyed\"]I didn't even know one can take triple humanities.. Sorry to break it to you, but NO university course requires you to have taken the respective humanities as a prerequisite. You can do econs in uni without having taken econs in JC. HOWEVER many science courses require the respective science as a prerequisite. For eg. medicine requires H2 chem and H2 bio/physics. Most engineering courses require H2 chem and H2 physics. I would really advise your child to take up at least double science so that his uni options are not severely limited.


EDIT: Unless your child is really 100% sure on an arts related career, then go ahead with triple humanities. To my knowledge, the only \"prestigious' arts related career is LAW. However please note that students who did science in jc can also apply to any arts course including law whereas arts students are limited to only arts courses.

My son's subject combination is chem+bio+history+english literature+singapore studies
He studying in ip school.

that's fine then. from the way you posted I thought he wasn't doing any sciences at all. The combi will allow for H2 chem and H2 bio at jc level, bio is a prerequisite for most life science courses. Physics is usually the requirement for engineering courses, but if he's not open to physics and doesn't plan on going into engineering then the combi is fine.[/quote]But like that is it quite limiting for him? Quite a lot of courses in uni is engineering.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173225https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173225Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:28:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Triple Humanities or Triple Science? on Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:25:51 GMT]]>

NormalPerson:
Skyed:

I didn't even know one can take triple humanities.. Sorry to break it to you, but NO university course requires you to have taken the respective humanities as a prerequisite. You can do econs in uni without having taken econs in JC. HOWEVER many science courses require the respective science as a prerequisite. For eg. medicine requires H2 chem and H2 bio/physics. Most engineering courses require H2 chem and H2 physics. I would really advise your child to take up at least double science so that his uni options are not severely limited.


EDIT: Unless your child is really 100% sure on an arts related career, then go ahead with triple humanities. To my knowledge, the only \"prestigious' arts related career is LAW. However please note that students who did science in jc can also apply to any arts course including law whereas arts students are limited to only arts courses.

My son's subject combination is chem+bio+history+english literature+singapore studies
He studying in ip school.

that's fine then. from the way you posted I thought he wasn't doing any sciences at all. The combi will allow for H2 chem and H2 bio at jc level, bio is a prerequisite for most life science courses. Physics is usually the requirement for engineering courses, but if he's not open to physics and doesn't plan on going into engineering then the combi is fine.

EDIT; you mentioned that your kid is weak in math, would recommend seeking help with that because even in JC if you go arts stream most jcs require h2/h1 math as the contrasting subject. if going science then math is compulsory.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173222https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173222Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:25:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Triple Humanities or Triple Science? on Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:25:03 GMT]]>

slmkhoo:
The downside of triple humanities is that if your son later on wants to take up a science that he didn't take in Sec 3 & 4, he will not be allowed to. Of course, if he is sure he doesn't want to take science at A levels, then that's not a problem.


Many science-type university courses required Chem, and some may require Physics or Bio. Most humanities courses do not have prerequisites and science students can apply to them too, which is why studying sciences is more flexible. However, if it is a choice between good grades in humanities and poor grades in sciences, getting good grades is better than poor grades.

I wouldn't worry about jobs yet - there are lots of options whatever courses your son takes, even if they are not the obvious doctor/lawyer/accountant type. More important is that he in interested in his courses as he will more likely do well.

My daughter is also going into sec 3 next year so we have gone through the same reasoning process. We decided on triple science because she has absolutely no clue what she would want to do at A levels, and she doesn't have a preference for sciences vs humanities, so we went for flexibility. Hope this helps.
My son quite poor in math and sciences both only b3. But his humanities also not that stable although he can get a2 for all his humanities.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173220https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173220Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:25:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Triple Humanities or Triple Science? on Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:22:07 GMT]]>

Skyed:
I didn't even know one can take triple humanities.. Sorry to break it to you, but NO university course requires you to have taken the respective humanities as a prerequisite. You can do econs in uni without having taken econs in JC. HOWEVER many science courses require the respective science as a prerequisite. For eg. medicine requires H2 chem and H2 bio/physics. Most engineering courses require H2 chem and H2 physics. I would really advise your child to take up at least double science so that his uni options are not severely limited.


EDIT: Unless your child is really 100% sure on an arts related career, then go ahead with triple humanities. To my knowledge, the only \"prestigious' arts related career is LAW. However please note that students who did science in jc can also apply to any arts course including law whereas arts students are limited to only arts courses.
My son's subject combination is chem+bio+history+english literature+singapore studies
He studying in ip school.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173215https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173215Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:22:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Triple Humanities or Triple Science? on Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:20:43 GMT]]>The downside of triple humanities is that if your son later on wants to take up a science that he didn’t take in Sec 3 & 4, he will not be allowed to. Of course, if he is sure he doesn’t want to take science at A levels, then that’s not a problem.


Many science-type university courses required Chem, and some may require Physics or Bio. Most humanities courses do not have prerequisites and science students can apply to them too, which is why studying sciences is more flexible. However, if it is a choice between good grades in humanities and poor grades in sciences, getting good grades is better than poor grades.

I wouldn’t worry about jobs yet - there are lots of options whatever courses your son takes, even if they are not the obvious doctor/lawyer/accountant type. More important is that he in interested in his courses as he will more likely do well.

My daughter is also going into sec 3 next year so we have gone through the same reasoning process. We decided on triple science because she has absolutely no clue what she would want to do at A levels, and she doesn’t have a preference for sciences vs humanities, so we went for flexibility. Hope this helps.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173212https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173212Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:20:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Triple Humanities or Triple Science? on Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:14:51 GMT]]>I didn’t even know one can take triple humanities… Sorry to break it to you, but NO university course requires you to have taken the respective humanities as a prerequisite. You can do econs in uni without having taken econs in JC. HOWEVER many science courses require the respective science as a prerequisite. For eg. medicine requires H2 chem and H2 bio/physics. Most engineering courses require H2 chem and H2 physics. I would really advise your child to take up at least double science so that his uni options are not severely limited.


EDIT: Unless your child is really 100% sure on an arts related career, then go ahead with triple humanities. To my knowledge, the only "prestigious’ arts related career is LAW. However please note that students who did science in jc can also apply to any arts course including law whereas arts students are limited to only arts courses.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173207https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1173207Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:14:51 GMT